Cover Story

Finding Your Niche

The hospital where she works is not like the hospital you think of. Her patients are not like your typical patients. The medicines they receive are not always your typical medicines. Dr. Emily Maynard Swift, a 2016 Campbell University Doctor of Pharmacy graduate, describes her job as being a niche of a niche. Swift serves as a large animal pharmacist at the NC State Veterinary Hospital. “I always knew I wanted a career with animals,” said Swift. “My childhood dream was to become a veterinarian. Then I had the opportunity to work at the vet school, and it blossomed into learning about veterinary pharmacy. I started working here in 2006 and have been here since. My love for veterinary medicine and pharmacy meshed as one. This is the dream job.” Swift was introduced to the world of veterinary pharmacy by Gigi Davidson, a renowned veterinary pharmacist, who served as the Director of Pharmacy at the NC State Veterinary Hospital for 38 years. “Being able to work and learn from her and seeing all the things she has accomplished, I wanted to be like Gigi one day,” Swift recalled. “She inspired me to pursue my dreams in veterinary pharmacy and always encouraged me and helped me any way she could to help me get on that path.” Most of the patients that Swift serves are horses. At times she has also had cows, alpacas, llamas, sheep, goats, and potbellied pigs. Her passion for animals extends beyond her work. At home she has two horses, three miniature horses, two Australian cattle dogs, and an Anatolian Great Pyrenees. “I grew up loving animals. It’s always been in my blood to be around animals. It just feels natural.” Swift, who is a fellow member of the Society of Veterinary Hospital Pharmacists and recently earned a Diplomat of International College of Veterinary Pharmacy certification, loves the teamwork and learning aspects of her job. “My favorite part of veterinary pharmacy is the teamwork. Just as hospital pharmacists all work together, we all work together. I enjoy being out on the floor and interacting with the teams. I love the learning aspect.” As an undergraduate student, Swift was told by a professor that she wasn’t smart enough to go to pharmacy school. Swift was determined to prove the professor wrong. Her passion and desire drove her toward her goal. She attended PREP (now HPREP – Ransdell Family Health Professions Readiness & Enrichment Program) in 2009. Attending PREP allowed her to meet other prospective students as well as current students and faculty who were leading the activities. This solidified her decision; Campbell is where she wanted to be. “I chose Campbell because I liked the atmosphere. I felt like it was more of a family. All the professors knew me by name. I felt like I could go to any professor if I had a question or concern,” she said. “This was something I really valued. I didn’t apply to any other schools; I knew Campbell is where I wanted to go.” During her time in Campbell’s pharmacy program, Swift experienced different challenges than some of her classmates. She didn’t know a lot about human medications. Her background was animal medications. Some of the drugs used in veterinary medicine are ones that failed the human market. She knew off-the-wall drugs but had to learn the more common human drugs. Self-described as a shy and quiet person, Swift credits horses for giving her the confidence to believe in herself and Campbell for providing a family like atmosphere for her to excel. “Campbell really set me up for success… they molded me into the pharmacist I am today.”